A Second Chance at Independence

“I grew up in Ohio where I was a carpenter by trade for 41 years. I had a brief stint in the Navy when I was young and even volunteered for Vietnam. After work in Ohio died out, I caught a Greyhound and moved here to the Pacific Northwest to stay with a friend.

I eventually lost everything. I lived on my friend’s couch for years while my alcohol addiction continued to get out of control. But back in February my daughter, Shayla, called me with really exciting news. My baby was getting married and she wanted me to walk her down the aisle, but only if I was sober. That was my wake-up call and the very next day I checked myself into a recovery program. From there I was connected to Michael’s Place where I found a room with other vets like me who just needed a second chance.”

At Michael’s Place, a CCS transitional housing program for veterans experiencing homelessness, Ron became the house maintenance man, drawing upon his extensive carpentry skills to keep the place running smoothly during his stay. Exactly 5 months after checking into treatment, Ron moved into a studio apartment, sober and healthy. He has continued to stay in touch with his friends at Michael’s Place, and of course, traveled to Ohio to proudly walk his daughter down the aisle.

Here at Catholic Community Services and Catholic Housing Services, we are honored each day to celebrate the newly gained independence of those we are privileged to serve—people who have moved from crisis to stability— people like our friend, Ron. CCS/CHS provides many programs and services for veterans and their families, including Disabled Veterans